Keeping Secrets by Kiru Taye

First off,

KA-POW!

Is that not a smoking hot cover?

Yup. Yes. Affirmative.

Well then, let me tell you, Kiru Taye did justice to this smoking hot cover, 'cos the book was also *cough cough* smoking hot.

Oh boy! She did not pull her punches, and just in case you think it's all about...hotness and hot people doing hot things to each other, it's not. It's about Ebony and Felix who have just gotten married, but not for love, nope, for business. He needs to get the board of his family's financial empire off his back, and she needs to get past the scandal and shame of a broken engagement. Unfortunately, Felix gets into a car accident ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT, after a big fight with his bride and when he wakes up from his coma, six months later, he doesn't remember her, he doesn't remember being married but he likes what he sees and wants to have a real marriage with his wife.

Ghen Ghen!

What does his wife have to say about this? Read the book and find out. For now, say hello to Kiru Taye.

Who is Kiru Taye?
Thank you for having me on your blog, Timendu. So who am I?
Well, I'm an author of multicultural romances, entrepreneur of a small run-from-home business, wife to a generous man, mother to 3 wonderful kids, sister to 4 sometimes hilarious siblings, daughter to 2 patient parents and hopefully friend to a few beautiful souls. Okay, I ran out of labels. LOL

Why do you write?I write because there are characters in my head whose stories need to be told. If I don't write their stories they'll drive me mad. It's a compulsion. LOL.
 
When did you start writing?
I have to confess I'm new to writing. I wrote my first full-length story in 2010. In contrast, I've been reading all my life, so I guess I've been preparing to be a writer all my life. J

Why romance?
The simple answer is because I love romance novels. It's a love affair that started when I was a teenager and read my first Mills and Boon. J　

Why steamy romance?
I'm an adult. I write for adults. I enjoy steamy stories. So I write steamy stories. J Sex is a part of everyday adult life. As adults, we should embrace it and not be embarrassed by it. So why not?

When you started this, did you ever think, I'm going to be The Queen of Nigerian Erotica?Hahahaha...Queen of Nigerian Erotica. I love it. But where is my crown, and when was the coronation? LOL. Seriously though, when I started writing I was just hoping Nigerian/African women would learn to embrace their sexuality and enjoy their interactions with their partners. My message was simple—sex can be pleasurable and not just functional with the right, attentive partner. If this makes me the Queen of Nigerian Erotica, then I'll gladly accept the crown. J

Was it always romance or did you start in another genre?
I love reading romance novels but I read other genres too. With writing, for now, I'm only writing romances. One day I will write other genres, perhaps an epic fantasy or thriller, under a different pen name.

Why swing between sub-genres: historical, contemporary, and paranormal?
I think by the time I'm done, I'll probably have a story under every romance sub-category there is. LOL.
I really have no control over which eras the characters belong to. They simple make an appearance in my mind and I start writing their stories. As I said earlier, my writing is a compulsion driven by the characters. The plots unravel as I write them.

So far, you've published 10 books and contributed to 2 anthologies, what's the journey been like?
So far, so good. I've been very privileged to work with some wonderful authors, editors and publishers in my journey so far. I'm grateful to God for giving me the opportunities I've had.
Did you have help along the way - writing coach, mentors?
Yes, I've had great help from members of my writing groups, The Nuthouse Scribblers and also Romance Writers of West Africa.
Also, my editors have been Godsend. They have taught me so much.

What's the best piece of advice you received as a writer?Read widely – If you want to be a great author, you have to learn to read. Personally, I can't understand how anyone can call themselves a writer if they don't read.

What advice would you give to new writers?Don't take criticism to heart. Learn from it. Revise. Revise. Revise.

If you could do it over, what would you do differently?I don't have any regrets. So I won't change anything from my past.

What's your writing ritual?I don't have a writing routine as such. But here is what I do sometimes.
In the mornings, do the school run. Settle the baby. Write for an hour or two. Do some chores. Blog/Social media. Pick kids from school. Evening chores. More social media or writing later at night.

What's your favourite thing about writing?Creating stories people love. Getting feedback from readers who love my books.

What's your least favourite thing about writing?Editing. LOL

What do you do for fun?I love travelling to new places. I also love dancing and hanging out with friends and family.

What's your favourite dish?You know, I love food. A little too much, perhaps. At the moment I have a thing for sushi. But my favourite all time food has to be Giant fresh water snails and Ugba, both Nigerian delicacies.

Image Source: Tupelo&Green

What's your favourite drink?Mojito

What's your favourite snack?Roasted cashew nuts

What's your go-to movie/book to relax?Considering I have over 1000 ebooks on my kindle app, getting time to just relax with any of them would be great. J
These days we watch movies as a family so it has to be something the kids can watch too. But the kids and I love superhero movies. Avengers Assemble is a favourite in our house. Otherwise, it's something from the Nollywood Movies channel.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Depending on my mood, I can listen to anything from classical to rock, from Afrobeats to soul. You name it and I'll probably listen to it, if I'm in the mood for it.

Which would you prefer - a quiet evening with friends or a night out on the town? Why?I could do with a night out on the town. But most of the time, it's a quiet evening with friends.

Of all your books, do you have a favourite? Why?You can't ask me that. I love all my books.
It's like asking me which of my three kids is my favourite. J

What inspired 'Keeping Secrets'?Keeping Secrets is partly inspired by the life of one of my best friends. Unfortunately, she has passed on but the story is dedicated to her.

It's the first book of The Essien Trilogy so when can we expect the other two?The schedule for The Essien Trilogy is as follows
Keeping Secrets – out May 2014
Making Scandal – out Sept 2014
Riding Rebel – out Dec 2014

I can't wait!!!



Keeping Secrets by Kiru Taye
Contemporary Romance
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BOOK BLURB
Have you ever loved someone and didn’t even know it? That’s the dilemma facing Felix Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married to the most beautiful and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her or their wedding; he who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to another. Yet, he feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore fully. Ebony can’t believe her good fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the temporary marriage arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed, and is now the adoring husband she’s always dreamt of. She plans to make the most of the passion blossoming between them. However, would he still feel that way when he regains his memory and realises she’s been keeping secrets and their marriage is not what he thinks it is?

 

Top Ten Facts About The Main Characters

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | All Romance | Smashwords | 

Coming to Barnes & Noble soon

A lover of books as a teenager, Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket with a torch at night. These days, with a young family to take care of, she's still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.
During the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.
When she’s not writing or reading, she'd hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and children.

You reach her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest

Follow her blog for latest news and giveaways:
http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com

Read book excerpts and free short stories on her website:
http://www.kirutaye.com

Link to her Amazon author page

To celebrate the release of Keeping Secrets, Kiru is giving away a goodie pack which includes $20 Amazon gift card, signed paperback of An Engagement Challenge, Keeping Secrets t-shirt and face cap. Leave me a comment to stand a chance of winning and complete the rafflecopter to enter the contest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Delightfully Inconsistent

Show of hands if that describes you in any way, form or manner.

*raises hand and waves*

Yup, I thought so. I'm a card carrying member of that merry band, along with Procrastinators Anonymous. I'm also the mother of The Goo, who when she says the magic word, "@*%"x@" transforms into Super Goo, The Nocturnal Terror.

(PS. The Nocturnal Terror is only one of her many aliases)

Anyway, I'm part of this Blog Tour, invited by my good friend and fellow mummy-writer, Sifa Asani Gowon - www.sifushka.blogspot.com . The deal is she mentioned me on her blog (last Monday) and answered some questions, and then (This Monday) I mention her and three other bloggers, and answer some questions.

It's like a chain letter for blogs, men, dude!

(Does it show that I am sleep deprived?)

So first, the questions:

1. What am I working on?
I am working on (putting the finishing touches on) Anthology 2. It's a collection of stories by female Nigerian writers invited by yours truly to give us Nigerian happy endings. Why happy endings? I'm glad you asked - 'cos the world is depressing as it is. I would like to read something that gives me hope, that tells me it's okay to dream a way out of this pit we've dug ourselves into (talking to you, Nigerians!). So yeah. We're basically done, and in a couple of weeks, I'll be sending it to the publisher, and then going to pray :D

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I don't know. Happy endings, I suppose.
(That makes no sense)
I don't know - I haven't really decided on a genre of choice, so I can't say. Feel free to call me Madam Gender-Bender.
(Wait. What?)

3. Why do I write what I do?
Ah!
I like to make people feel. If I can tug at an emotion then I'm happy. Oddly enough, writing happy endings is not exactly easy. (It's not easy, Period!) But it's worth it.

4. How does my writing process work?
That's a funny question.
Hmm. Well, first my internal discipline lever is broken so yeah...but external pressure (I'm ashamed to say) like deadlines are great. That's why the anthologies plan for the year 2014 is so great for me. But my process specifically - I ignore everything else - The Goo, Papa Goo, Meals, Housework and so on - and write. If it's good, yay! If it's not delete, and try again. Later...

So that's me (gosh, I'm entertaining). Next week, you'll hear from:

Kiah, who reads and writes, and likes to eat fried plantain, every day, all day.
www.kiahsscript.com

Pamela Agboga, who writes poems, playlets, short stories and articles.  She recently published her first novel, Weekends are For Loving, and is currently working on a movie script with a friend. She loves reading novels, and watching movies as much as writing, maybe even more, and hopes to beat her writing deadlines this year...so far so good.
www.chowilson.wordpress.com

Xavier Ighorodje, who is a writer of weird fiction, and has not seen it fit to supply his photograph or a bio. So hopefully, this will do (and shame him a little. Muah ha ha!)
www.mrxavierighorodje.wordpress.com

Where were we?

Hey hey hey!

I dropped off the map. I know. I wanted to try out writing, rather than just blogging about writing, and as usual, found the process frustrating and depressing. Alas, maybe I am not supposed to be a writer.

Sigh.
But wait...The Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop called for entries. I sent in mine. What would it hurt? And I was invited for the workshop.

Yay!

I'm not so bad. Lazy, and lacking discipline and self control (damn romance novels. And chocolate. And cake), but not a bad writer.

Whoooopeeee!

Workshop took 10 days. A couple of my fellow participants - Uche and Sifa - blogged about Day 1, and yes, it was life changing stuff.

Can you see me? Hint: Pink shawl

So now what?

Now to make my wonderful teachers proud. Speaking of teachers, a very big THANK YOU to Chimamanda Adichie, Eghosa Imasuen, Binyanvanga Wainaina, and Aslak Sira Mhyre for investing their time and knowledge in me, and all of us (The Girls and Boys Club of Chimamanda).

I'm off now to make it work.

PS. A big Thank You also to Papa Goo and The Goo for giving Mummy some time off. Big Hug!

Conversations with Myself

Me: I want a coke.

Myself: Take water.

Me: But I really want a coke.

Myself: Water is better.

Me: Cooooke!

Myself: How about fruit juice? Or fruit?

Me: Fruit juice? Hmm.

Myself: Better than a coke.

Me: Hmm. Coke.

Myself: How about a malt?

Me: Hmm. Maaalt.

Myself: Yup. Malt.

Me: I'd rather have a coke.

Myself: Why don't you just get yourself a coke?

I am now drinking a coke.

In other news, Hey! It's been a while. No, I have not been avoiding you. I've just been mostly knackered. All I had energy for after taking care of The Goo and Papa Goo was to read.

 

   

      2013 Reading Challenge
   

       

         
       

     

        Timendu has
             read 138 books toward her goal of 300 books.
     

     

       

hide

     

     

        138 of 300 (46%)
     

       

          view books
       

 

   

So that's what I've been up to.

Oh yeah, and I've upped my challenge goal back to 300. Fun times!

I know I should say something about my writing but honestly, I don't want to. I will say, I ALWAYS expect things to be easy - school, marriage, childbirth (no words!), writing a book, but they NEVER are.

So...that's all folks!

The 200 Book Reading Challenge

2013 Reading Challenge

Timendu has
read 37 books toward her goal of 200 books.

hide

37 of 200 (18%)

view books

Yes, I changed my goal again. Let's face it, if I'm going to be reading all those romance novels (and I will), then the tally is going to go up rather quickly. Romance novels are definitely smack dab in the middle of my comfort zone, and since I'm trying not to over indulge with chocolate, cake, or chocolate cake, then well...hello Nora!

Also, this past week I was kinda sorta under the weather - nauseous, poor appetite, insomnia, headaches - bring on the comforting. That's not to say, I won't try to expand my horizon and read things I would normally not read. However, I won't lie...I really like my comfort zone.

In other news, work has resumed. I've started on the wrong foot and am behind schedule, but that should be sorted out by tomorrow. I've decided to put my personal feelings aside, and be a disciplined professional. Yup. A Disciplined Professional.

I'm not entirely happy with my prep work for Good Intentions, but I have to start. Writing is rewriting, I've been told, so I suppose I should just jump to it.

Wish me luck. I'm actually a little nervous.

PS. I write the weekly column Rita's Road for Poise Finishing School's insert in Business Day newspaper (every Tuesday). If you could check it out, and let me know what you think, I would really appreciate it. Muchos Gracias, and have a great week.

I'm a Writer: Being Passive Aggressive

Wow!

It's been another two weeks.

I really don't know what to say. Sorry seems to be the hardest word (sing it Elton!)

Anyway, contrary to the title of this post (the first part), I have not been writing. Not really. I should have written 8 articles and cleared my schedule till the end of the year, but I've written 2.

Why? See the second part of the title.

I didn't know I was passive aggressive till I got married. On a side note, you never know how angry and how often you can get angry till you get married. To all my single ladies out there, practice deep breathing and counting to ten before you meet The One. It will come in handy.

Anyway, what does being passive aggressive have to do with life as a writer? Well, when you write for clients who pay you per article, you find out rather quickly that most people are not blessed with your kind of genius. As a matter of fact, they tend to land at the other end of the intelligence meter.

...(excuse me while I count to ten)...so let's say I'm supposed to write 8 articles, and my client is supposed to pay me for 5 articles already written, and does not do so, nor see it fit to inform me that said money will not be paid in at agreed upon time, well then, that just gets my goat.

But I am nothing, if not professional, so what do I do - I delay said client's work till they are gagging for it, and then instead of 8, I send in 1 just before they are to go to press. I don't know why but it warms the cockles of me heart to see them scramble.

Unfortunately, I am also a creature of habit, and after a while, I am unable to bring myself to deliver said client's work in time. Ever again. This pains me because I keep hearing Neil Gaiman's voice in my head saying, "Send in your work on time. Make sure it's good work. Make sure you're a pleasure to work with", or something along those lines. It's just that between myself and said client there is an almost septic yet cordial culture of disrespect.

It's not good for me, and I don't know if I should continue. The work is fairly challenging. The money is handy, but I pick up bad habits very easily, and they have turned out to be such evil communication.

Whatever shall I do?

Blast from The Past Thursday: Broken Nanowrimo Dreams

Hello you.

Yes. I've been away. I've been...errr...busy. That's right.

Busy.

No, there is no other blog. I haven't even put up a Facebook note. Honest.

:)

Anyway, enough crazy talk. Here's my unfinished nanowrimo piece of last year. Please let me know what you think. I stopped writing it because the world building, especially creating the magic system, was driving me crazy. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

It was getting dark. That was the thought that crossed Kandara’s mind as she watched her father walk down the beach towards the ocean with a white cock in his left hand and a small knife in his right. It was high tide and the waves roared and crashed unmercifully against the sands before they slipped back. The cock wailed in fear and anger, but the waves paid it no mind and neither did her father.

She walked a little distance behind him, with her twin sister, Kajol, by her side. They both carried little clay pots covered with leaves, and had to walk carefully on the sands to make sure the contents did not fall out. A flash of lightening brightened the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. Kandara glanced at her sister. Kajol didn’t even flinch.

She is not afraid, thought her father, as he took purposeful steps forward. He didn’t look back, but he knew she was still behind him. He could sense her spirit. She has always had a strong presence, he thought, I have to teach her to temper it or she will overwhelm the villagers. He reached the shore line, and turned his thoughts to the business at hand.

There was a slight breeze and his white wrapper billowed around his ankles. As he waded into the water, his voice boomed with an incantation for their deity. “Opubeni! Dibaere! Great mother and sustainer of life!”

The girls stepped forward with their arms outstretched, their gifts in front of them. Her father continued, “this day, we humbly come before you,” he had waded deeper into the water, bracing himself against the onslaught of the waves. The beach sand wasn’t much help but as the chief priest to the Sea goddess, he had been doing this since he had come of age. Time may have sapped his strength but it had also gifted him with experience. The water whipped and frothed around his thighs now as he continued, “trusting in your mercy, we seek your wisdom.”  His daughters reached the shore line and waited.

“Reveal your will to us. Direct our thoughts.
Open our eyes to behold your ways
That we may speak your truth to your people.” his voice boomed, over the waves “that we may direct their path according to your desire”.

The girls placed the pots in the water simultaneously and immediately the waves softened and quietened, and took the pots in.

The sky darkened quickly, and suddenly. Then a flash of lightening, a clap of thunder and a loud wail from the cock as their father ran the knife cleanly across its neck. Its legs struggled against its binds and its wings whipped about frantically but it was dead.

Another flash of lightening, another clap of thunder, and the cock was flung into the ocean. It hit the water and Kandara imagined she heard a splash but that would have been impossible. The waves had gotten louder and higher, but would break just before they reached the shore so the trio of worshippers were not in much danger. At least not from the waves, the sands gave way beneath their feet and they had to finish their business quickly or the sands would offer them to the ocean.

“Opubeni! Dibaere! Great mother and sustainer of life!” boomed the chief priest again - and then he dove into the ocean.

Kandara hated this part. They would have to wait for him to return. The only danger was that his return was not his decision. If the Sea Godess was pleased with the offering, then she would send back the Chief Priest with a message for the villagers.

If the Sea Goddess was not pleased with the offering, their father would not return.

********************************************************

A few miles from the Great Ocean, just past a small but rich rainforest was their village. It was named Periama by her founders because they believed that the land that they built their homes on was a sacred gift from the Sea Goddess, Opubeni. Local folklore said that land where they had their homes, farms, village square and shrine was once all under the sea. Kabowei, the first man birthed by Eneyi, the Mother of all Gods, had placed him in the care of Opubeni, her daughter because there was unrest in the land of the Gods. Upon receiving Kabowei, Opubeni realised that he could not survive in her watery world and so to ensure his survival, she retreated just a little and gave up a small body of land. This, along with the regular bounty of sea food was enough to ensure his survival, and Eneyi, seeing that he was in good hands, sent down Ebiere, the first woman to be his wife.

As time went by, the man and woman grew to be a family then a tribe and then a village. Opubeni, gave up more and more land, and Kabowei’s ancestors showed their gratitude with gifts, worship and devotion. They declared her to be their saviour and deity, deciding that they would have no king, for the leadership of Opubeni was more than enough. A pair of twin boys were chosen to be her priests and the village agreed that their descendants would always be priests of Opubeni. These priests would offer the gifts and prayers of the village to the Sea Goddess, and would receive her counsel and judgement on their behalf.

These priests served Opubeni and the people of Periama well for they were faithful worshippers of the Sea Goddess and the people prospered because of them. However, with time and with every new generation, devotion to Periama waned and the priests paid the price for this cooling of the villagers’ faith. That was why there was fear in the village air tonight. For the tide had been rising, but not receding as far back as it used to, and many feared Opubeni had tired of them, and wanted her land back.

There were whispered rumours of an abomination among the people. An abomination that would anger even the kind and merciful Eneyi, if she still bothered to visit with men, but none of the rumours could tell for sure what it was.

“I have heard”, a woman whispered to her husband in their hut, “that someone may be worshipping an evil spirit.”

“What evil spirit?” her husband asked, his voice tired.

“I don’t know!” was her hasty reply, “you know, I don’t know of these things, but you -”

“Me what?”

“You spend your days in the forest -”

“Hunting game.”

“Are you saying there are no evil spirits in that forest?”

“I have not seen or heard of such things.”

“But Peretin, the palm wine tapper’s wife said her husband had heard the sounds of strange beings dancing in the forest.”

“Strange beings?” he laughed, “and how do you know that these strange beings were not the fruit of tasting too much palm wine?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but he stops her short with a raised palm, “Feed me, please. Then you can regale me with the tapper’s palm wine induced tales.”

She snorted, but got up and went in to prepare his meal. He muttered to himself, “Evil spirit? Opubeni, have mercy.”

********************************************************
Opubeni would claim him as an offering for reparation of the village’s offence. Kandara and Kajol would be the new Chief Priests, and they would have thirty days to appease the goddess before she took back her land and allowed the sea to submerge the village.

Kandara whimpered as her eyes searching for her father in the raging waters. “Opubeni, have mercy“, she prayed.

“You are afraid.” Kajol said, her eyes also locked on the waves.

“You are not!”

“No.”

“Why?”

“There is nothing to fear.”

“What?” her eyes wide in disbelief as he she turned to look at her twin. “Father may not return!”

“That is a possibility. Especially if you consider the warning signs.”

“You would be pleased with Father’s death?”

“My pleasure or displeasure is of no relevance here. Opubeni will do as she wills”, she replied coolly, glancing at her sister, “it would serve you well to remember that.”

“But Opubeni is kind. Opubeni is merciful.” flung Kandara, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Opubeni is a goddess. And Father is her Priest, as are we. We live to serve her. We are simply her instruments.”

“Shut up.”

Kajol laughed, short and mean. “Very well. It doesn’t change the truth.”

“Truth?”

“Stop shouting. We aren’t even supposed to be speaking.”

“Truth?” a whisper now, “Do you want Father to die?”

“Resting in Opubeni’s arms is the highest honour.”

“Sometimes I hate you.”

Another laugh. “I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t want Father to die.”

“It doesn’t matter what we want.”

“Do you want Father to die?”

Sigh. “I don’t think of it that way.”

“How do you think of it?”

Pause. “I think of my options.”

“Options?”

“Yes, options. Right now, I’m thinking when Father returns we will have to tell the village Opubeni’s message, and prepare the thanksgiving offerings. If the message requires an offering, we will have to prepare that as well. If Father does not return, we will have to tell the village that as well. We will have to prepare for the Priesthood ceremony, and it will have to be done quickly. We will have to come back to Opubeni, and -”

“I’m not ready!” Kandara muttered.

“Ready?” a frown furrowed her face, then cleared, “oh”, another short laugh.

“I don’t think I will ever be ready.”

Kajol’s eyes narrowed to slits as she turned to look at Kandara. Kandara’s head is bowed in shame, and she’s afraid to look at her sister.

“I don’t think I want to be Opubeni’s Priestess.” Kandara said, her voice a whisper, barely audible over the roaring of the waves.

********************************************************
In the land of the gods, there was trouble once more. Then again, the trouble that started in the time of Kabowei and Ebiere never really stopped. No, it simmered and now had come to a boil. Eneyi, the all powerful mother, was facing dissent in her kingdom. She was not troubled. She was not even worried, but her children, Opubeni, Agunowei, and Kirikeme were. They had abandoned their duties as protectors of mankind and had returned to their mother’s aid.

“You should return to your wards.” Eneyi said, for what seemed to her to be the umpteenth time.

“Don’t be silly, mother.” replied Opubeni, raising her voice, “we are here to help you handle this”

“I have handled it.”

“Obviously, not well enough”, Opubeni again, “ You don’t seem to understand the repercussions of your inaction.”

“Inaction?”

“Yes mother! You aren’t doing anything!”

“I have done enough. Nothing more needs to be done.”

“How can you -”

“Mother, we’re here now” Kirikeme cut in, “At least, let us take care of these rabble rousers for you.”

“ I wouldn’t call them rabble rousers, Kiri.”

“Okay, but they are trying to overthrow you.”

Eneyi laughed at that. “As if such a thing could be done.”

“It could, mother.” said Agunowei, you know it could.”

She smiled, “Agunowei, you have been with me the longest. You too are afraid of the throwaway insults of a few servants.”

“Servants that you have imbued with much power.”

“Only in the land of men. They have no power here.”

“True, mother, but if they get enough men to worship them or even fear them.”

“A very big if.” said Eneyi.

“A possibility none the less.” replied Agunowei, his voice gruff. Eneyi looked at him, then at her other two children. “That is why you must return to your wards.”

“No!” yelled Opubeni, “we are not leaving you alone, and that is final.”

Eneyi laughed again, then said, “Stay then, and look after my affairs. I will go down and look after yours.”




CHAPTER 2

Kajol looked at her sister’s bowed head, then turned back to look at the ocean. “I know” she said.

“I’ve always known. I have never understood why but -”

“Because I want to live a normal life.”

“What’s normal?”

“I don’t know.” she said, her voice distracted as her toes traced in the sand.

Kajol waited, not saying anything, not moving. The roar of the waves seemed louder.

“I want more in my life than just rituals and sacrifices.”

“Rituals and sacrifices are a part of everyone’s life.”

“Yes. A part. Not all encompassing. Kajol, we do nothing else!”

“That’s not true, dear sister”, she said, “ we listen to the demands of the dear dear villagers.”

Kandara sighed, then replied, “The villagers come with their prayers, not demands.”

Kajol hissed.

“It is our duty to help them -”

“A duty you tire of.”

“No. I do not tire of that. That is the one part of my life that gives me joy.”

“Joy?” said Kajol, and then threw back her head to laugh. “You expect too much from life, dear sister. Opubeni gives and Opubeni takes away. We just have to make do with our lot.”

“That is not enough for me.”

“Then you will live unsatisfied.”

“Are you satisified?”

“I do not seek satisfaction”,

That's all folks. I may go back to it. I don't know. What do you think?

PS. Deepest apologies to those who are having trouble leaving comments. I don't know why that's happening, but rest assured I will soon find a tech savvy friend to take care of it. Till that happens, feel free to leave me a comment on Twitter via @ChrisTimOere.

Muchos Gracias. 

It's not you, It's me.

So...how many of you know Steve Harris?

Show of hands please.

Lovely.

If you don't, check out his website.

Anyway, Harris is a life strategist. A kind of life coach meets bully. Seriously.

He just threatened to kick me off his program, if I didn't get here straightaway and update this 'ere blog.

So here I am. Hey, Harris *waving frantically*. We good?

Phew! The thing is, I'm not a brat. Or a difficult person. (ignore my lengthening nose please). I'm actually a well rounded individual with goals and deadlines and timelines, and do not at all struggle with procrastination, or poor time management, or an inability to prioritize. Nah! I'm damn near perfect.

My one flaw? I'm so talented, I think I can do everything.

It's true.

*Big grin*

Anyway, I'm sorry. Again. I got lazy. And a little overwhelmed. And mostly lazy. And so when the internet started acting up for a couple of days, I didn't come back. It's nothing personal I love that I have a blog, and that some people take time to check it out and even leave comments. Seriously! Like Wow! However, I'm a commitment-phobe so you're gonna have to be patient with me. Love me through my great days, and the days I don't show up without so much as a by your leave.

Why?

I'll make it worth your while. Honest. Just ask my husband.

And with that segue, check out Papa Goo's YouTube channel How She Left My Brother

PS. Yes, I know I owe you the rest of the egg shower. Wait till Thursday. Please. If I put it up now, then I may disappear for another 2 (or has it been 3) weeks.